Rants + when will multi-stream CableCARDs become available?

[greenstork]

Upon the news of an eminent Series 3 release, I called Comcast to price out a new system. I don't currenlty own an HDTV because I was waiting until there was a viable TiVo HD recorder. Now that one is in the works, I'm looking at quite a rise in my monthly fees.

I currently have a Samsung SIR4040 with a larger HD, dual tuner, etc. and use DirectTV for my signal. I pay about $84 a month which includes HBO & Showtime, my local sports channel (Fox Sports NW) AND this also includes DirecTV's $6/month DVR fee. I've never paid a dime to TiVo because a lifetime subscription was included with my Samsung unit. I've actually been curious why this particular unit doesn't get more "press" on this forum. I know it's not HD, but not having to pay TiVo fees every month, plus dual tuners, is a huge bargain as far as I'm concerned. I've been quite happy in SDTV land for a few years now.

A new setup however, is going to cost $$$. My same programming would be around $87 a month from Comcast, plus about $8-10 in taxes & misc. fees, $5 per month per CableCARD or $10 total for dual tuners, and $5 or $10 per month (can't remember) for HD programming. This also does not include a $10-15 monthly fee for TiVo. For the same functionality that I receive today, in HD, I'm going to pay along the lines of $50-60 MORE per month, to say nothing of the upfront fee of buying a new HDTV and $800 Series 3. One caveat, these higher fees are after the first year of service. Comcast does have a 1 year special going on right now if you sign up for Telephone service, cable internet and TV, which I intend to do, this should bring my bottom line price down by about 15-20% or something along those lines, but still absurdly more expensive than I pay currently.

Rants aside, when I contacted Comcast about the ease of acquiring a CableCARD, I was pleased to hear that all of their techs have cards on hand to install and there shouldn't be any wait to have two CableCARDs installed. The CSR did say that CableCARDs are for TV's but I'm sure he was just clueless about future products like the S3. I asked about a multi-stream card and the CSR didn't have a clue what I was talking about (go figure).

Does anyone have any idea when multistream cards will be adopted by the Cable Co.'s?

[Stephen Tu]

A new setup however, is going to cost $$$. My same programming would be around $87 a month from Comcast, plus about $8-10 in taxes & misc. fees, $5 per month per CableCARD or $10 total for dual tuners, and $5 or $10 per month (can't remember) for HD programming. This also does not include a $10-15 monthly fee for TiVo. For the same functionality that I receive today, in HD, I'm going to pay along the lines of $50-60 MORE per month

Some of this is overestimated. For Comcast, first CableCard should be "free", included in the digital cable package since you are not renting digital STB. 2nd CableCard could be brutal, charged as an "additional outlet fee", but this seems to vary greatly depending on area, I've seen reports from as little as $3 to as much as $7. There is possibility of arguing yourself out of additional outlet fee since it's one device, but who knows? Also there is some possibility that you can get away with one cablecard if the software is clever enough (so record 1 unencrypted + 1 encrypted ch at a time), that's also unknown at this time. Also there is no HD programming fee, that fee is only for rental of their HD STB rather than their SD STB. Since you aren't renting their HD STB, shouldn't get this charge. People using cablecard, at least in my area, aren't getting hit with this fee. So overall, it would be probably $25-30 more per month, not the $50-60 you estimate.

For me, currently renting HDDVR without digital cable + premiums, I have estimated the series 3 switchout additional monthly cost as best case $7, worst case $16 depending on what fees Comcast forces me to swallow.

Multistream cards are out, reports suggest availability sometime this year.

[bkdtv]

Comcast, Cox, and most other large cable companies have placed orders for multistream cards. They should be available by November in major markets, although availability will be tight at first.

As far as paying twice, talk to the supervisor. Once they understand that you need two CableCards for one TV, they should only charge you once. Or so, that's the case here. Here on Comcast in VA, you will get two CableCards for free if you have a Series3 and digital cable. If you elect to keep the Comcast digital set-top box, then the fee for both CableCards together is around $3.00/mo -- if both are for the same TV.

CSRs haven't had training on this, however, so many will not understand. Up until now, every CableCard has been for a separate TV. It will take time before CSRs at all the cable companies are trained to understand exactly what the Series3 needs.

[greenstork]

Some of this is overestimated. For Comcast, first CableCard should be "free", included in the digital cable package since you are not renting digital STB. 2nd CableCard could be brutal, charged as an "additional outlet fee", but this seems to vary greatly depending on area, I've seen reports from as little as $3 to as much as $7. There is possibility of arguing yourself out of additional outlet fee since it's one device, but who knows? Also there is some possibility that you can get away with one cablecard if the software is clever enough (so record 1 unencrypted + 1 encrypted ch at a time), that's also unknown at this time. Also there is no HD programming fee, that fee is only for rental of their HD STB rather than their SD STB. Since you aren't renting their HD STB, shouldn't get this charge. People using cablecard, at least in my area, aren't getting hit with this fee. So overall, it would be probably $25-30 more per month, not the $50-60 you estimate.

For me, currently renting HDDVR without digital cable + premiums, I have estimated the series 3 switchout additional monthly cost as best case $7, worst case $16 depending on what fees Comcast forces me to swallow.

Multistream cards are out, reports suggest availability sometime this year.

You're right, I seem to recall that the CSR told me that the first CC is free or included in my digital cable fee. I did think there was a HD programming fee but I'll call again to confirm.